PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 18:10-14
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)
Jesus came to show us how God wants us to live in the world.
Adam and Eve were not designed to fight, to kill, to hurt or be violent.
This kind of behaviour, rampant in our world, is not original to our nature.
But SIN and Satan have twisted and warped our nature, and now it seems normal.
Think about how much war has devasted our world through history.
There we see how humanity drinks from a horrific, bloody cup.
The cup that God gave us, and Jesus, to drink, was not suffering.
The cup we are still given is the cup of love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
The solution to all the hate and violence in the world is not more of the same.
Too many Christians have followed Peter, not Jesus, in using violence for the cause.
God gave Jesus the cup of humble love, and he drank it to the full.
It did result in suffering, but even more, it began a revolution.
Jesus has beaten SIN and Satan by restoring the cup of God’s goodness.
Will we join with Jesus in drinking this cup, even if no one else is drinking it?
PRAYER
Lord, we can’t change the world with force or politics. Help me see the ONLY way to change our world is to put away our swords and drink the cup of grace, mercy, love, joy and peace!
Caiaphas could not have know just how correct he was in his statement. Thank you for taking this cup, you drank it so that we didn’t have to, and now you have made the burden easy and the yoke light.
Norm, you make the allegation that “to (sic) many Christians have followed Peter”, but you don’t support your claim with any examples. Who are you talking about specifically? Are you bold enough to name some names?
In my view, too many Christians pastors have become timid and weak and afraid to call out the sins of specific individuals and instead make blanket statements like the one you made above. They act like Peter later on in the night you’re speaking about when he became feeble and spineless and denied that he even knew the Lord.
“Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.” The high priest who yearly brings the lamb for the atonement – offers the ultimate sacrifice even though he doesn’t see it as an atonement sacrifice. Its and affirmation to me of Jesus role in being the lamb that takes away the sin of the world – that affirms He is my saviour. I take hold of the promise of believing in him that I am saved! Yes Jesus you are the ‘one man’ by whom we are saved! Thank you Jesus!
The sword of peter was not the answer. The sword of the Spirit is. Jesus healed the man’s ear. The battle belongs to the Lord and this was not the time . Jesus knew what was to happen to do His Father’s will. God uses people His wonders to perform even though they may not know it – His will be done. And because His will was done I have life eternal to live for Him. May those around me see Christ living in me. He is alive!
Alive, alive, alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore
Alive, alive, alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive forevermore
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive